Fastener applying device



July 22, 1952 H. J. SPENCER 2,603,782

. FASTENER APPLYING DEVICE Filed may 7. 1949 l s sheets-sheet 1 July 22, 1952 H. J. SPENCER 2,603,782

FASTENERv APPLYING DEVICE y Filed 'May 7. 1949 s sheets-sheet 2 4 :i. mm. e576 INVENTOR Herma/7 J 30e/7691 July 22. 1952 H. J. SPENCER 2,603,782

. FASTENER APPLYING DEVICE l Filed lay 7. 1949 s sheets-sheet s Figla FigJo-A. f

4 INVENTOR v t; Hermandfpencer 3 the surface I4a of the lever and connected to the lever I4 by a down turned tab 2 I. The function of the spring is to return the plunger to its starting position after a staple has been driven. An arm 22 having two transversely spaced sides 22a is located below the manually actuated lever I4 and is pivoted at its right hand end as viewed in Figure 1 on a pin 23 secured to the reuneY 2.. .The siegen@ .have noem so. that. the. arm 22 not only 'pivotspn the pin 23 butiscapable of sm'e"lengthwiseimovement' relative t'o the pin. The arm sides 22a are bent toward each" other at 24, see Figure 1, to decrease the space* between them so that they can be received,ingi'lhe-y slot 25 in the spring housing 3. The forward ends of the arm sides 22a are bent downwardly/atan` angle with respect to their rear end s. fThefor-.v

ward ends are provided with holes 2B which re-` ceive the upper spring rest I2. A roller-e21isl mounted on a pin 28 supported by the arm 22 at a point intermediate .the ends of the arm. The roller 21 contacts a plate 29 which is secured 4to thesides [4b of the lever I43but isrspacedfrom the top I4a so as to provide .a space for the, stripv I9. The contact `between the .roller 2.11andthe plate29 of lever. I4 is shiftable and the-arrange-` ment is such thatthis contact point moves closer to the pivot point I5 of thelever I4 as .the lever is depressed, thus increasing the mechanical advantage or leverage of .the .lever I4 and arm.22 onthespringl. f 1 j f A latch 30, see Figure 8, composed of two` arms 30a and a cross piece 30h, is pivoted on a pin 3l tting iny holes .32 provided inthe plates 1. A spring 33v urges the latch toward theplunger so asfto' cause the lugs 34'on .the latch tov enter notches V35 provided in the spring housing3.

1 Al strip of stap1es36 is contained in a magazine 31'. l A U-.shaped staple guide bar 38 is located inr the magazine .31, 'the staples straddling the guide. barv as showntinFigureJl.. staple .follower 39; see. Figure 1,fisl locatedin the magazine. at the rear endof the strip .of staples. A spring 40.-is connected at oneend 4I to the staple follower 39 and passes'around asheave 42 mounted onV apin' 43 secured to the frame 2. The upper. run 40d of the-spring at lits.Y right-hand endisprovided withl a clip 145 which is connected to .a bar 45a. The .bar `45ais wider than the magazine 31 and has 'its ends extending outside of theframe sides Zband 2c=through a slot.44 :formedineachof the frame sides. A notch.46 is..formed: in the frame at therear :end ofl each of the Vslots .44.forlv receivingthebar 45a and preventing it v.from'fmov-f ing liorward vin the slotss44. unless. the'fbar45a is 'lifted from thefnotch 46:.l A hold-down mem-l ber 41"is providedior holding the. staples inline on the fg'uidebar V38A and to lact vasthe side :guidey plates of a vstaple driving channel. i YHold-down member 41` has-vertical anges 41a and a;hori. zontal' ilange 411) which* extends over .the staples arid-'holds'themV in line on the guide bar38.. l The front `'end uof hold-down `member.l 41 is .provided with downwardly extending parallel bars .41e on each'side of and=spaced fromfthe-guide. bar 38 and those barsg41cA extend beyond the. front. end ofth'e `guide bar. 38,:.The hold-down member 41 is fslidable. in Lthestaple magazine. so. that it can move forwardly or rearwardlya limited distance. A U-shaped member...41e',. 'shown .in Figure. 1 is secured tothe iframe 2 above the hold-down member-41aand actslto limit. upwardmovemen ofthe. hold-down' member .at .itsrear end.. In Figure. 1 thezhold-downzmembefis shown in its forward position andrat its rear. ,end a.spac.e.48. is-f pro.-'.

4 vided between the hold-down member and the frame of the machine. Each of the bars 41c at its front end is provided with a lug 49 which iits into a notch 49a in a front jaw 50. This front 5 jaw 50 has two side portions 5I which are pivotally mounted on pins 52 carried by the frame 2. The front jaw is shown more particularly in Figures 10, 10A and 14. It comprises a front plate 53 having the notchesv 49ul and extending 10 between'the siideportions i" 'frontfportion 53"'l1as'ya downwardly" extending portion 53a wwhich is of less width than the portion 53 and lwhich forms the front face of the staple driving g channelUinf-wh-ich the plunger blade 5 operates'.

15 The rear face of the extended vpart of the staple driving channel is formed by a plate 54 which o. extends ybetween bars 55 secured to the plate 53a..

The staple driving throat in which the blade 5 operates lis designated by the reference numeral 56. The horizontal flange 41h of hold-down member41 isY provided at its center with a slot 411dywhich is open at therearend of flange 41hand extendsiorwardly to a point adjacent the barsA 41e.' EachI o f the-vertical flanges 41a is pro- 25 videdati its rear endwith a notch 51, see Figures 1A `and 15,. which is .substantially in. line with the notch-inthe frame 2. v 1 y .Y

engaged in the. notches 46v of .the vframe and the notches y51 ofthe holdndownl :member-.41, the sprngfrlwis under .tensionmthe iollower. 35i-ie urgedv forwardly. endrthe .luge 4.9 .en the 1101d. down member 41 areurgedinto engagementwth the notches 49o .in the jaw V5I), .therebylocking the jaw in its operative position. When it is desired to rei-lll the magazine 31 with staples, the spring clip b ar 45a is disengaged from the notches 51.v and 46and allowedto move. forwardinthe slots. 44,-' thereby relieving tension E in, the spring are bereledat theinupper .edges toadeereethat willV locls :jaw 51Min place when lugs 4la'rey urged; forwardlyby spring 40..;bntwi111a110w jew. 5'!! .te rotatecounterclockwise aboutpivot 52 to its .Open

vspringr` 40., thereby openingltheront .endlof the magazine .31.; Astrip of staples; is then inserted through the front end of the magazine 31,- .thi s v lugs 49 on theIhold-downmember engage, the

notches 4190iv of 4the .jaw :5.0 operatveposition- .onerationoi the devieeis Vas fellowse Stage I-Free travel-Assuming ,that` -the parte.. `are. vin .the .Starting-:..postions-.shown in Figure 1,'when'thef1ever i4 .is depressedit. r0.1 tates clockwise about the pivot I5. This causes counterclockwise movement of the arm A22 about thepivot.k 23 becausevof the contact between-the roller 21and theg'plate 2 9 .which is secured, to .the lever. Since the arm 22 ispivoted tothe upper sprinesrest .12. the "upper, .spring rest moves downwardly. During this rst'stage lthe notches; 35. o.f-. the. plunger 3V are. above.; the luesaon the latch .3.0..so.thatrthe-plnngeris free te giove.. as. apnitriflnis. Steegmans@ the freetravel and lock the jayvl :in

40. 4As shown in Figures l, 2 andl 14, lugs49 position when lugs 49- are not-urged forwardlylby` overcome spring tension becausek the bar 45u-lof.

satana stagegl'filuring this; stage ,the v'spring It isnot compressed substantially-but the plunger 'unit-as" a'who'le-inoves downwardly until; thej-lugs 4j ofl the ylatch 3Q engage the y'notches ,35v 1in-the plunger. f

'i Stage "Z-C'ompressz'on of spring/.Qns the lever sdepressed -furt-her, the glatch =305holds I4 the'plunger' from downward movement and the aspri-ng I Ilv 'is' compressed. During`v thisfcompression of'thespring the-upperfspringrest "I2A moves downward-ly inthe slots'I'Za in thespringv housingvr 4 'and during 'such movement the'ilowe'r Ha fifi the `spring housing V4.

sp'rmg''- rest II -remainsatythe bottcm'rfof its-slotv I4* contacting Athe `loeveledfaoe 160 ofthe *latch 30 :and rotating the vlatch Clockwise about its pivot I-3I' against the tension ofthe spring' 433so as-.to release the lugs 34 on the latch from the notches I354m the spring housing- 4.' lUponrelease offthe-plunger'bvthelatch; they spring flexpands and since the upper VspringA rest isv held in'xed position-by the arm 22; the plunger v3 moves downwardly 'as a unit under the driving force of the spring until the upper spring rest I2 is at the topof its slot I2a in the spring housing and theblade -5 of the.' plunger 3 has reached approximately but not quite the po-r sition-shown in Figure V3.

Stage 4-Mo'mentum` downward' movement kof pZung'enf-'After the spring I0 has expandedA to" its full extent, and the upper springrestr I2"is at fthe top of its slot Ilial and the lowerv spring rest `II Aisfstill at the bottomo'f its 'slot IIa, there is'a further downward movement of the'plunger I "due to the momentum orh inertia of the plunger. This'vmomentum downward movement continues until the lower vspring rest'IiI y'reachesthe bottorn ofthejslots I Ib'in'the guide plates 1. Dur-'- ingijthisA portion yof the momentum downward moveinpentythe roller 21 movesdownwardly away from-'the plate v2),fas' shownin Figure 3.I l

A`{S'tage 5 Further downward vrrto'riemuvn, movement ofthe plannen-When the ylower spring rest I'Ighas reached' the-bottomv of the slot l'llb in the plate 1', further downward AInomentum movement of the plunger'causes compression of the spring I0,-thereb y cushioning theQplunger at the end ofits driving stroke.l

During this cushioning action the lower spring rest II remains at the bottom ofthe' slots AI Ib in the plate 'I but moves vupwardly 'in the slots IIa"in-the springhousing'lt, thereby compressing the spring I0. Thus the plunger actuating spring I not only performs theusual function of driving the plunger downwardly during the staple driving portion of the operation, but

thereafter acts to cushionthe plunger at the end of its driving stroke. This cushioning action` is made possible by the provision in the springhousing-4 of the slots IIL,r which allow further downward movement of thek spring housing-vrelative-to the-lower-spring rest III -after the downward v movement of thatv spring re'sthas been stopped Fby Contact 'withfthe bottom'V-j'ofthe lIn`r myl'ifastener Vapplying device the parts are so arranged that vthe contact between the roller 21 and the plate 29 on the lever I4 moves closer to the pivot point I5 of the lever as the lever is depressed. This increases the mechanical adli-rllfzryien s'z'on' of spring-FigureujZ the-"parts shortlyf'afterthe-latch"tllhas` beenfrele'asedfrom the notches'inl thespring housing 41., '.*Thisfrelease is 'accomplished by lugsY 59 secured to thev plate -29' carriedz by -theleverl l frame,` a staple driving plunger recnr'oe'ably'7 40' practiced 'within vth vantage-duringcompression of' they spring -I-I).4

Itwill'- bejflseerrithat`-in`--thestarting position-- shownfingFigure -1 the" roller 21 isf-'locatedl abovef theT line] connecting the` pivot' I5 and `thewpiv'ot 23' Qf'armf-Zj; v'T Ifhusrr when 'the lever+4 -is'ffde'- pressed'.- -`the-ro1lerl -2'I not onlyis #loweredlbut movesfcloser to the'pivotfl, asv can be readilyA s een-byreferencetoFigures'1and 3. y#Thus the mechanical advantage'- or leverage -is-increasedduring compression Aof the spring while ,still-fpro v'idi'ngv considerable free @travel i of the plungerf priorto compression offthe spring: `This pro'-l vision of free tra'v'ely "of the plunger means Ethat thev J' staple driving plunger f travels a' *greater y f total distance than iffno'freetravelY-were providedL `and `-that accordingly longen 'Staplescan be,l employed. Of course; -the distance th'ata staple driving plungerl tra-veis 'upc-n 'depressing the-'actuating lever a given amount can'y be rincreased inva plier type of stapling deviceqby' moving thepivot' point ofthe two armsfurtheraway from the plunger but this :reduces thefleverage on the-plunger; Ininy device-the .roller 2j'I moves closer to' the pivot I5 when "the lever I4 isfdepressed,`thus resultingiin a1 relatively- ,small 'leverage action during the free travel por'- tion lof the plunger vstroke when largelevera'ge is not needed butfa `relatively large' movement of theI p1un'ger,` and thereafterY during compresy s ion ofthev spring the-'mechanicalfadvantage'isr' increased because offmoveinentY of thel roller/'21I towardthe pivot' point I-5. The invention is notv limited to'- th'epreferredf embodiment but may be 'otherwise4 embodiedv 'or claims. f

Iclaim: 1'. In a fastener applying deviceL 'having'y laA mounted in Va' plunger guideA channel,v meansi for feeding Lfasteners into position'tobe driven by said plunger, and amanually operatedlever piv`* oted' onv the frame of the device; theimr'ijroveVr mentV in means fortransniitting motic'nrfrom the* manually operatedlevery tothe'V plunger whichcomprises an arm located 'belowsaid 'manually' operated lever, pivotally connected adjacent one endj to said plunger, slidably connected adjacentitsopposite end l,to said frame' and having inter# mediate itsends a contact with said `manually opitive .to .said f, plunger, a manually operated lever y, pivoted tothe frame of thel device an arm nlo cated' below. said manually operated lever,v ,said arm being .pivotally connectedadjac-ent one @end tosaid upper springvrestand adjacentits oppo site?. endfslidably .connected to saidv frame, said', armhavingintermediate its endsa contactlwith said ,manually` operated leyer, said lcontact .point moving in an arc around'the.pivotedconnotion of said arm on said upper springrest toward the pivot point of said operating lever. thereby in# creasing the power of said lever as it is depressed.

e scope ofv the 'followin'g `3. In a fastenerapplying device havinga frame, a plunger reciprocablyl mounted inthe frameof the device, means for feedingfasteners into position to lbe driven by Vsa .id' pl1f1ng er, a plunger actuating spring, means for holding said plunger actuating spring in alignment with said plunger, an upper spring rest and a lower spring rest, each of said spring rests being movable relative 'to said plunger, a manually operated lever pivoted to the frame of the device, an arm located below said manually operated lever, said arm being pivotally connected adjacentrone end to said upper spring rest and adjacent its oppositev end slidably connected to said-frame, said arm having intermediate its ends acontact with said manually operated lever, .said contactrpoint moy'- ing toward the pivot point of saidmanually operated lever around the pivoted connection of said arm and said upperispring rest, thereby increas-v ing the leverage of said manually operated lever,

and resilientI means connecting said manually: operated lever and said top spring rest for reg.

turning the plunger to its starting position.

"1. AA fastener applying device comprising a frame, a plunger having a spring housing, a

plunger housing in which the plungerireciprocates, a compression spring in said spring 'nous-i" ing, an upper Spring rest and a lower spring rest, said spring housing having upper slots for receiving the ends of said upper spring resty and lower slots for receiving the ends of said lower spring rests, said upper and lower spring rests being movable in said slots, said plunger Ahousing having slots into which the ends of said lowery spring rests extend, and which limit downward movement of said lower spring rest toward the end of the driving stroke, a manually operated lever pivoted to the frame, means operatively connecting said lever'and said upper spring rest for compressing said spring uponA depression of said lever, a `latch for'holding the plunger Vduring compression of the. spring, means operative .upon depressing said lever for r'eleasing'the latch u spring rests,'said upper and' lower spring'rests'v being movable in said slots, said plunger'housing having slots into which the ends of saidlower spring rests extend, and whichlimit downward` movement vof said lower spring `rest toward the end 'of the driving stroke; amanually operated lever pivoted tothe frame, an arm locatedbelow said'lever, said arm being pivotally connected adjacent one end to rsaid upper spring rest and adjacent its opposite end slidably connected to' said frame, said arm having intermediate its ends a contact with said lever, whereby said spring is compressed upon depression of said lever, a" latch for holding the plunger during compression of the spring, means operative upon depressing' sai'dlever for releasing'the Alatch from the 'plung driven by said'plunger; j.

. .70 er after Vthe spring has 'been'compressed .and4

means forfeeding fasteners 'into'rpositionfto'vbe' `6. AV fastener applying device comprising a frame, a fastener applying plunger unit reciprocably mounted in said frame, said plunger unit including a plunger and an upper and a lower spring rest and a plunger actuating spring between said rests, said upper spring rest being movable in relation to said plunger, said spring acting to urge said upper rest away from the low,A er rest to thelimit of its movement in relation. to said plunger, means for feeding fasteners into position to be driven by said plunger, anop'eratinglever pivoted on the frame, means connect-' Y ing said operating lever with said upper spring rest for moving the plunger unit downward toz shear a fastener from a supply of fasteners carried in a suitable guide below said plunger, there-:-

by partially driving one of said fasteners, a latchf for arresting the downward movement of said plunger after a fastener has been partially driven, continued movement of said operating lever with itsconnecting means to said upper spring rest acting to lower said rest in relation to said plunger, thereby compressing said driving spring, means operative upon depressing said lever for releasing said latch from the plunger after the' spring has been compressed, thereby permitting said spring to expand and drive said plunger downward to complete the securing of said fastener.

7. A fastener applying device comprising a frame, a fastener applying plunger unit reciprocably mounted in said frame, said plunger unit including a plunger and an upper and a lower spring rest and a plunger actuating spring between said rests, both of said rests having limited movement in relation to said plunger, said spring acting to urge said rests apart to the limit of their movement in relation to said plunger, a latch.'

for arresting downward movement of said plunger, an operating lever pivoted on the frame, means connecting said lever with said "upper spring rest and acting to lower said spring rest on depression of said lever, thereby compressing said driving spring against the lower movable spring rest held in said plunger, means operative upon depressing said lever for releasing said latch from the plunger after the spring has been substantially compressed, thereby permitting expansion of said spring to actuate the plunger downf.

ward to drive a fastener until said upper spring rest reaches the limit of its movement relative to said plunger, said plunger unit and said means connecting said upper spring rest with said operatmg lever continuing their downward move-V ment under their own momentum to complete'.

the driving of a fastener.

HERMAN J. SPENCER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: f

UNITED 'STATES PATENTS l Number v. Name Date 1,994,567 Cavanagh Mar. 19, 1935 2,107,522 Cavanagh Feb. 8, 1938 2,109,203 spencer Q Feb. 22, 1938 2,137,642 Cavanagh Nov. 22, 1938'` 2,161,449 Blumenbaum June 6, 1939 2,310,529 Krantz Feu 9, 1943 2,381,192 vancura Aug. '1, 1945 

